Day 2 - Connellsville to Myersdale

105 miles down
215 miles to DC

We began the day with a bit of apprehension—it was set to be our most challenging leg yet, a 57-mile stretch with a gentle but persistent uphill climb toward the Eastern Continental Divide.

Thankfully, the weather was on our side again. Under clear skies, we steadily gained around 1,200 feet in elevation. My bike computer showed a consistent 1% incline—enough to shave about a mile per hour off our usual pace, but not enough to dampen our spirits. Along the way, we crossed numerous bridges spanning the Youghiogheny River, each offering stunning views and perfect spots to pause and soak in the scenery.

Not everything went according to plan, though. Heavy rains a few weeks back had triggered a landslide, cutting through a portion of the trail. We had to detour using a shuttle service, but silver lining—it reduced our ride by 6 miles.

I brought my drone along for the ride today and managed to capture some aerial shots. It takes a bit more forethought to set up, but it was worth the effort. Once the trip wraps up, I'm excited to compile both the drone footage and all the videos into a polished highlight reel.

One year, the Lifecycles team had such large numbers that we had to split the ride into two separate groups, just a day apart. When I joined the ride two years ago, there were eight boys on the trip. This year, the number is significantly smaller—we had just two boys. Despite that, we chose to move forward with the journey. In fairness, the boys had also worked hard to reach all the criteria to be eligible for a challenge ride.

The shift in group dynamics has been noticeable. Normally, the boys tend to stick together and socialize mostly among themselves. But with such a small group, something different has happened: the boys and the adult leaders have blended into a single, more connected group.
As one of the leaders, it’s been a meaningful change. It’s given us a chance to get to know the boys on a more personal level—something that’s harder to do in a larger group. It’s made this trip feel more thoughtful and rewarding in a way we hadn’t expected.Leer más